Research Interest(s): Historical Sociology and International Relations; State Formation and Disintegration; International Systems and Regional Orders

HENDRIK SPRUYT

PROFESSOR

Department of Political Science, Northwestern University

Program Area(s): International Relations; Comparative Politics

Regional Specialization(s): Middle East; Europe

Department Strength(s): Comparative Historical Analysis

Professor Spruyt previously taught International Relations at Columbia University (1991-1999) and Arizona State University (1999-2003) before joining the faculty at Northwestern. He received a Doctorandus from the University of Leiden, School of Law, (The Netherlands) in 1983, and his Ph. D in Political Science from the University of California, San Diego in 1991. He was chair of the Department of Political Science at Northwestern from 2005-2008, and Director of the Buffett Center for International and Comparative Studies from 2008-2013. Professor Spruyt has also served as co-editor of The Review of International Political Economy and has served on various editorial boards including the APSR.

From Scientific American

Spruyt ... shows that sovereign states of Europe emerged from the decline of feudalism as urban units gained freedom and formed leagues.... He also puts into perspective the European Union that today's nationstates are attempting to put together.... A significant contribution to political science and to European history.

From The New Yorker

Spruyt takes on a theme that is ... of central import to political science.... A convincing demonstration that there was nothing inevitable about the triumph of the [present] form of the state.